return
to life in sf
The natives of San Francisco have a lot to say about their
city. The natives know how the system works. They know
where to go and where not to go. They learn the back roads.
They learn the tricks to getting around at ease. They
learn the popular spots, the bum spots, the rich spots,
and the hidden treasures, which may be personal treasures
of their own. Once they learn the ways of the game, it
only seems humane to teach an unlearned soul how to handle
the modes of a city called San Francisco.
Having dealt with the daily and nightly life of the fast-paced
city for three months, the San Francisco Urban Studies
Class of Spring 2001 have a few words-of-advice to be
passed along to those adventurous folks planning to venture
into this new world for the first time. Although we are
not all natives, we've walked the walk, talked the talk,
rode the ride, and driven the drive, enough to say there
are numerous experiences not to be anticipated. The unpredictability
of the streets give the city that bittersweet flavor us
young students dare to taste.
The people of the city come in many different shapes, sizes,
colors, and class. There doesn't seem to be a majority
of one kind to represent the entire city. There may be
enclaves dispersed in different sections of the city,
but not one group takes up the majority of the town. In
fact within the enclaves there are enclaves. A district
may be rewarded a certain character by the activities,
buildings, and services in it, but no one can determine
the culture of any section in town until the people adapt
to it.
The homeless people make up a fair population of the city.
Most people treat them as invisible even though they are
far more visible than the middle-class passerby. In fact
many of the homeless become familiar faces especially
to those with daily routes to work.
LESSON #1: "Always carry at least five bucks
and pocket change" ~Dan Gonzales
"The foot stomping blues man in the Civic Center
Bart station should be tipped a buck for being the only
music bum with talent!" ~Eric Peabody
Perhaps it would be worth a buck or two, to reward some
talented souls who've established their niche in life
as street musicians. There are quite a few street musicians,
some better than others. But if you were to establish
a daily path, you would get familiar with at least on
of these talented bums who catch your eye everyday. The
bums smart enough to use the wonderful resonance of the
underground Bart stations as their stage, most definitely
deserve a little change.
LESSON #2: "When walking home late at night,
avoid shadows on dark streets because it might be a bum
with his mean dog." ~John Juranco
There is a flip side to these homeless characters of the
streets. You never know what may lurk in the shadows of
the night, especially in San Francisco. Just the fact
of knowing that life lies beneath piles of blankets and
stacks of cardboard, may keep a passerby on guard. It
is always a good idea to be aware of your surroundings
at night, because sometimes the resting bodies have malicious
dogs for protection. I mean, could you sleep not knowing
whether someone was going to step on your head?
LESSON #3: "Never help anyone collecting
for a down payment on a cheeseburger." ~Kelly
Overstreet
Some bums try to use humor to collect change. The lines
may sound original as if conjured from good spirits in
accepting the streets. But when a bum has the same line
for the same people a few days in a row, one begins to
wonder if it really is a cheeseburger he purchases with
the donated change.
LESSON #4: "Just when you've seen everything,
take a walk down Market Street." ~Stacey Wellnitz
Market street is said to be a district all of its own.
It connects two grids to form terrible intersections.
It acts like a boundary for the South-of-Market district
and the North-of-Market district. The street itself could
be identified as the main street of downtown. It collects
the full spectrum of people, from black to white, skinny
to fat, short to tall, young to old, and rich to poor.
San Francisco Center collects most of the spenders who
are usually suburban folks ready to spend money. The cable
car turnaround collects the tourists who are either out-of-towners
or Bay Area natives who still haven't enjoyed to tourist
attractions of their major city. Other distinct spots
include the ten-speed biker's corner, the hard-had construction
zones, the old-guy chess club, the mid-twenties trendy
café hangouts, and the teenage blast-your-music-bus-stop
hangout. A ten-minute walk down this street could result
in a bundle of experiences for all five senses.
The transportation system of the city is no walk in the
park, literally. Parks are a scarcity and walking is secondary
to public transportation. The stressors of travel from
here to there could certainly change one's mood for the
day.
LESSON #5: "Don't underestimate the little
old ladies on public transportation. I think they take
steroids for breakfast. They will push, kick, shove, and
knock ANYONE over, to catch their bus. They don't give
a toot so TRY to keep your top on. It takes A LOT of patience
to not return the gesture and KNOCK THEM OUT. They are,
after all, just little old ladies." ~Tunisia
Jones
The Muni buses run every so often along the main streets
of San Francisco. And despite the stresses, it is still
of the best public transportation systems.
-melissa velarde
